His name of Indian origin, a result of his paternal grandfather emigrating to Scotland from Ludhiana, India in the 1960s.

[2] As a teenager he worked in an abattoir and as a nightclub door steward and applied unsuccessfully to become a police officer before turning professional in rugby.

[2] Bhatti started his youth rugby with Hillfoot Minis before moving on to Stirling County where he came through the age grades of midi and colts before playing for the senior side.

In December 2020, Bhatti signed for Premiership Rugby side Bath as injury cover until the end of the season.

[9] Bhatti received his first call up to the senior Scotland squad by coach Gregor Townsend in October 2017 for the Autumn Internationals,[10] appearing as a replacement in all three tests[2][11][12] including a historic win over Australia.